You’ll Never Guess the Secret Ingredient in These Pillowy Light Pancakes

Whenever I’m on the road exploring a new city, I love turning to Instagram to help guide my way, so when I saw these incredibly beautiful pancakes at a coffee shop called Proud Mary in Portland’s artsy district of Alberta, I knew I had to check them out. Visually stunning for sure, but the best surprise was the taste and texture. I broke into the crisp exterior and greeted a tender and light interior that exceeded all expectations for what a pancake could be. The edible flowers might have drawn me in, but one bite and I knew I absolutely had to track down this recipe.

Owner Nolan Hirte vividly remembers the inspiration for this pancake recipe. It was a ricotta hotcake he tried around 12 years ago at a tiny cafe in Perth, Australia. He recalls fresh orange slices married with Grand Marnier and fresh mascarpone on top of one of the lightest hotcakes he’s ever had. That experience blew his mind, and when he opened up the first Proud Mary restaurant, he knew he wanted something similar on his menu. The ricotta is the key to making these pancakes so incredibly light and airy. And taking the time to create a meringue is the added step that puts these pancakes over the top. Once he’d cracked the code, the rest is history.

Nicole Iizuka is a writer, producer, and director living in Los Angeles. While she has worked several jobs all over Hollywood, her love of food and travel keeps her constantly cooking up new, strange, exotic, and colorful recipes. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @nicolemiizuka or on www.itsborderlinegenius.com.